AGA Applauds Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act
Washington, DC – Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) introduced S. 1043, the Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2023, today, a bill that protects customer energy choice and ensures science-based metrics for measuring efficiency. This bill would require that the full-fuel-cycle be evaluated as part of the rulemaking process related to appliances.
“AGA applauds Sen. Barrasso for taking this critical step to ensure consumers have the information they need about energy cost, efficiency, and emissions when it comes to the energy and appliances they use.” said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the American Gas Association. “The direct use of natural gas is 92% efficient from production to customer, which underscores just how important it is to look at how energy is produced and delivered when looking to define energy efficiency. Natural gas plays a critical role in ensuring Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy and helping our nation meet its energy and environmental goals, and we look forward to working with the Senator and his team to continue to realize these benefits.”
Background:
- The National Academies found that using full-fuel-cycle metrics: “would provide the public with more comprehensive information about the impacts of energy consumption on the environment, the economy, and other national concerns, through the use of labels and other means such as an enhanced website.
- Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy and Emission Factors for Building Energy Consumption – 2018 Update
- Site (point-of-use) measure of energy consumption reflects the use of electricity, natural gas, propane, and/or fuel oil by an appliance at the site where the appliance is operated, based on specified test procedures.
- The direct use of natural gas is 92% efficient from production to customer compared to 38% for converting to electric generation.
- Full-fuel-cycle measure of energy consumption includes, in addition to site energy use, the energy consumed in the extraction, processing, and transport of primary fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas; energy losses in thermal combustion in power-generation plants; and energy losses in transmission and distribution to homes and commercial buildings.